Tank-car underframe.



H. G. PRIEBB.

TANK GAR UNDERFRAME. APPLICATION FILED 1AN.14,-1910.

Patented s611122, 1914.

nig"

PATENT ernten.'

HERMAN C. TPR-IEEE, OF CHICAGO, LLNOIS;

TANK-CAR UNDERFRAME.

minion Specification of Letters Patent.

fliertented Sept. 22, i924.

Application filed January 14, 1910. Serial No. 537,982.

To ZZ u1/wm if; may concern.

Bef known that l, Helium; C. Pinnen,`

v.improvement in Tank-Car Underi'rames,

of which the` following is a specification.

My invention has for an object the providing 0f a tank-car with an underframe construction wherein the center-sills directly and securely support the tank and directly sustain, but yieldingly cushion, the endt-hrust of A.said tank; and my invention has for further objects such other improvements in structure or function as may be found to obtain in the devices. hereinafter described or claimed.

In the aecompanyingr drawings, forming a part of this specification, and'in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in all the figures, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view showing' the middle portion and one of the duplicate ends of a 'tanicear underframe embodying my invention;

of Fig. l.

Figi'. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; Pag. 3 is a section on the line fi-T3 of ilig. l; Fig. 4- 1s a section on the line 4---4 ifi-f1() are the channel iron center-sills ot the undertrame, and l1 is the tank. 122-1142 are saddlexrastings rigidly-secured to thev bottom et the tank, the elongated top member 13 of tl'iese said castings being shaped to contorni with the curvature ot thetank-bottom that it cradles and is riveted to. The longitudinal shoulders 14 of said castings rest on and bear down upon the top face of the upper flanges oi the sills. while the downwardly projecting lower members l5 of said castiiig's are fitted within and between the opposed inner faces of the vertical webs ot' the said sills, the said cradle-castings beine; thus supported upon and soeketed to the sills and adapted to havea sliding movement` lonejitudinallyT upon the top. liauges of the sills. such sliding .moven'ient heineresisted h v the considerable friction between said sill-'Hanges and the aforesaid cradle-casting shoulders that rest upon said fiangi'es. The downwardl)7 nrojecting members l5 of each leradlea-casting); are provided with transverse longitudii'mllyY elongated kevways i6, at the respectively-opposite ends of said inemliers and respectively registerine with eorrespmidinor and equal iongitudinally elongated keyways in the opposed vertical webs of the center- .sills. A horizontal flattened key 17, of a `width substantially less than the. length of the aforesaid keywaysv is passed transversely through each mutally registering series oi' ke'vways in the sills and cradleeastine", thus securing the cradle-casting` to the sills and at the same time permitting it a limited longitudimil sliding movement with respect to the sills, the extent oi: such movement being limited by the difference between the length of the keyway slots and the width oi the keys, the possible movement being obviously 'just twice this difierence. The keys arcrelained in place laterally by the Cotter-pins 1S inserted in their respectively opposite ends. V'Between thel two keys transverse ot the respectively opinserted three coneeutrieally coi'npound Springs 197 one heinfzy positioned between the sills and one ou either side of the sills, the opposite ends ot' the said springs hearing against the respeciivel)7 opposed vertical edges ot the said transverse keys and Vthu.` constantly tending to hold said keys spread apart to the farthest limit permitted by the aforesaid elongated li'eyways in the criulle-casting and sills. Ear-hoi" said compound springs is retained in place, horizontally. by a retaining tube Q0 whose ends are in .slotted engagement with the respectivelv opposed keys. each such retaining tube inclini-inf.: the inner and being` 'encircled b v the outer of the two coiled springs that together constitute each otx the aforesaid coz'lccntrically compound springs. lt is obvious that any end-thrust ot the tank. resulting from a hotline' shock or other cause`I will he transmitted through the crudie-castinis and keys and be directly suf-'tained o v the sillsxbut will he yieldingly cushioned lrv the compression ot' the. aforesaid sprintNv and will he limited b v the possible longitudinal sliding' movement of the.V

cradle-casthuts in respect tothe sills. ThiiQ cushion provides that the tank is relieved oi shock or strain to which it would otherwise be subjected b v .any butiing oi' the car under'tranie: and at the same. time the tanlr on the la l'eral members of the vbody holsters longitudinally of said sills; a

the opposite ends ported upon said center-sills. the key 22, and shaped to conform with thecurvature of the bottom of the tank, such saddles also supporting the longitudinal side-beams 23 that extend from bolster to bolster and additionally support the lower portion of each side of the tank. These saddles and side-beams relieve lthe cradle-castings and keys from strain that would otherwise be put upon them by' any tendency of the tank to lateral swaying. Y

The cushioning effect of the'springde i vices coperates with the friction of the shoulders of the cradle-casting upon the top iianges of the sills, and thesetwo yielding! resistances are together capable of overcoming and cushioning a shock greatly in excess of, or even several times, the amount l of the load that is so supported on the sills. I One of thesel cradle-castings is positioned l near each body bolster, and a third may be positioned at the middle of the tank, thus i providing either tivo or three of them intermediate the body bolsters or in the length y of the tank; or only the' middle cradle-casting may be retained. to support and cushion the tank at the middle of the car, and then of the tank may be supported in the usual saddles over the bol. sters or otherwise.

My invention is hereinabove set forth as embodied in onewparticular .form of con,y struction, but I do not limit it thereto or to j less than all the possible forms in which' the invention as hereinafter claimed may: be embodied and distinguished from any. prior devices forlike purpose.

1. In a tankcar, center-sills; a cradle-member rigidly secured to the bottom of the vtank and supand socketed to the centersills, said member lbearingl down on and be-l ing slidable longitudinally of said sills;V transverse keys passed through mutually in combination: a tank" registering key-ways in said center-sills and cradle-members, the keyways in the said mutually coperating members being elongated to permit theA aforesaid sliding of said member on said sills; and spring-devices adapted to yieldingly cushion said member at either limit of said longitudinal' movement: substantially as specified.' y

2, In a tank-car. in combination a tank; center-sills; a cradle-member rigidly secured tothe -bottom of the tank'and' supported upon lband socketed to the center-sills. said member bearing down on and being slida'ble pairof transverse keys passed through key-ways in the opposite endis of the cradle-member and through respectively registeringkey-ways in -waysin the said Inutually coperating members being elongated lto permit the aforesaid sliding ofsaid memr on'said jsills; and al spring interposed and retained between said pair of opposed keys, to yieldingly cushion said member at either limit of said longitudinal movement; substantially as specified,

8. In a tank-car, in combination: a tank; 70. center-sills; a cradle-memberl rigidly, Sel cured to the bottom of the tank and supported upon and Socke-ted .to the center-sills, said member bearing dow-n on and being slidable longitudinally ofsaid sills; engaging devices adapted to secure together said' center-sills and cradle-member and to permit and limit the aforesaid sliding of said member on said sills; and spring-devices:l adapted to yieldingly cushion said member 80 at either limit of said longitudinalgmovement; substantially as specified. i

4. In a tank-car, in combination: a tank; center-sills, a cradle-member rigidly. -secured to the bottom of the tank and supported upon and socketed to the center-sills.v said member bearing down on and being slidable longitudinally of said sills; a pair oftranss. verse keyspassed through key-ways in the opposite ends of the cradle-member' and 90 through respectively registering keyfways in said center-sills; the key-ways in the said mutually coperating members being elongated to permit th'e aforesaid sliding of said, u member on said sills; and multiple springs interposed and retained between said pair of opposed keys.' to yieldingly cushion said memberat either limit of said longitudinal movement; substantially as specified. i'

5. Ina tank-car, in combination: a tank; centersills; a cradle-member rigidly secured tothebottom' of the tank and supported upon and socketed `to the center-sills. said member bearing downen and being slidable longitudinally of said sills; a pair of trans- 10! verse keys passed through key-ways in the opposite ends of the cradle-member and through respectively registering key-ways in said center-sills, the key-ways in 'the said mutually coperating'members being elon- 110 gated to permit the aforesaid sliding of said memberon said sills; and concentrically compound springs interposed and'retained betweensaid -pair of opposed ke. s, to yield? ingly cushion said member at eit er limit of said longitudinal movement; substantially as. specified, Y j

6. In a tank-car, in combination.: a tank: center-sills; a-cradle-member rigidly secured tothe r`bottom 'of the tank and supported 120 upon and socketed tothe center-sills, said member bearing down on and-being slidable longitudinally of said sills; a pair of trans.- verse keys passed through key-ways in the opposite .ends of the cradle-member and through respectively registering key-ways iii'` said center-sills, the key-ways in the said mutually coperating members being elongated to permit the aforesaid sliding'of said member on said sills; and a spring inter.i

posed and retained between said pair of opposed keys, to yieldingly cushion said member at either limit of said longitudinal. movementr` said spring being held positioned by a retaining tube that in in slotted engagement nf'ithlaaid keys; substantially as specified.

7. in a tanlocar, in combination: a tank'7 center-sills; a cradle-member rigidly secured vto vthe bottom oit' the tank and supported upon and sockctc'd to the center-sills. said member bearing down on and being slidable longitudinally of said sills; a pair of transverse keys passed through key-ways in the opposite ends of the crade-member and through respectively registering key-Ways in said center-sill, the key-waysin the said mutually cooperating members being elongated to permit the aforesaid-sliding of said member on said sills; and eonccl'itrically compound springs interposed and retained between .said pair of opposed keys, to yieldingly cushion said member at either limit of said longitudinal nmvement, said springs being held positioned by a retaining tube that is in slotted engagement Awith said keys and that incloses the inner and is encircled by the outer of the mutually concentric springs; substantially as specilied'.

8. ln a t/ank-ear, in combination: a tank; center -sillsg a cradle member rigidly secured to the bottom of the' tank and supported upon and soeketed to the center-sills, said member bearing down on and being slidable longitudinally of said sills; a transverse key passed through mutually registering keywvays in said center-sills and cradle members, the key-ways in the said mutually cooperating members being elongated to permit the aforesaid sliding of said member on said sills; and spring-devices adapted to yielding-ly cushion 'said member at either limit of said longitudinal movement; substantially as specified.'

9. A car structure including a tank; a

.supporting structure. therefor upon which the tank may move'longitudinally with respect to the supportingstructur a connection located between 4the ends ot the tank and rigidly secured to the bottom of the' tank and moving upon the supporting structure; means for preventing vertical movement between` said connection Iand the tank supporting structure without preventing said longitudinal movement ot the tank; and supports for the tank upon each side of said connection, upon which supports the tank may slide.

10. A car structure including a tank; a. supporting structure therefor upon which the tank may move longitudinally with respect to thevsupporting structure: a'oonneo tion-l0eated between the ends o1" the tank and rigidly secured to the bottom of the tank and sliding upon-the supporting struc-` ture; means for preventing vertical movement between said connect-ion and th(l tank supporting structure without preventing said longitudinal movement o'tthe tank: and supports for the tank upon `ach side ot' said' connection, upon which supports the tank may slide.

l1. A ear structure including a. tank: a supporting structure therefor upon which the tank' may move longitudinally with respect to the supporting` structure: a connection taking part in holding the tank down and which is attached to the tank and is moved by the tank upon and longitudinally ot' the supporting structure: and means for preventing vertical movement between said connection and the tank supportin' structure without preventing longitudinal movement ot said tank and connection.

12. A ear structure including a. tank; a supporting structure therefor. upon which the tank may move longitudinally with respect to the supporting structure; a connection taking part in holding the tank down and which is attached to the tank and caused to slide by the tank upon the supporting structure; and means for preventing vertical movement between said connection and the tank supporting structure without preventing said longitudinal movement of the tank and said connection.

13. A car structure including a tank: a supporting structure therefor upon which the tank may move longitudinally with rcspect to the supporting structure: a connection located between the ends ot the tank and taking part in holding the tank down and which is attached to the tank and caused to slide by the tank upon the supporting structure: means for preventing vertical movement between said connection and the tank supporting structure without preventing said longitudinal movement ot the tank and said connection; and supports for the tank upon each'side of said connection, upon which supports the tank may slide.

14. A car structure including a. tank: a supporting structure therefor upon which the tank may move longitudinally with respect to the supporting structu 1.; a connection taking part in holding the tank down and which is attached to the tank and is caused to slide by the tank upon and longitudinally of the supporting structure: and means for preventing vertical movement lictween said connection and the tank supporting structure without prcventii'ig said longitudinal movement of the tank and connection.

15. In a tank cai-*provided with center sills and a. removable tank mounted thereon, a cushioned anchoring means for said tank and means extending through said center sills and adapted to limit the longitudinal. movement of the tank on said sills.

A16. In a tank car provided with center hand in the presence of two subscribing Witsills and a removable tank, means to permit nesses. independent. movement of the tank With re- HERMAN C PRIEBE lation to said sills and coperatng means 5 extending through said sills adapted to Witnesses:

unite said tank and sills. HENRY LOVE CLARKE;r

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my H. M. MUNDAY. 

